Automatic watch cleaning machine



J1me 1950 o. SCHURENBERG 2,510,911

AUTOMATIC WATCH CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug; 16, 1944 I 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Qtto ScHurenber- BY gmPaw ATTORNEY.

June 6, 1950 o. SCHURENBERG 2,510,911

AUTOMATIC WATCH CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Otto Schubanbers JAM ATTORNEY.

June 1950 o. SCHURENBERG 2,510,911

AUTOMATIC WATCH CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheei, s

INVENTOR. Qtto Schumnbers W HTTORNEK June 6, 1950 o. SCHURENBERG AUTOMATIC WATCH CLEANING MACHINE 4 Sheet sheet 4 Filed Aug. 6 1944 w W H INVE TOR- Otto .schu nbers v Patented June 6 1 95 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an' automatic watch cleaning machine.

More specifically, the invention proposes a new and improved watch cleaning machine which is characterized by a vertical post mounted on a' base and having a top ratchet bushing with downwardly directed teeth, a downwardly adjacent reduced idler neck portion, and a fluted cam portion beneath the neck portion. It is contemplated to provide a collar slidably mounted on the fluted cam portion and having upwardly directed ratchet teeth for engaging said ratchet teeth for causing a partial turn of said collar when said collar is moved upwards. It is proposed to so arrange the parts that said fluted cam portion will cause an additional partial turn of the collar when the collar is moved downwards so as to set the collar in a position ready to be moved upwards again to have said ratchet teeth reengaged and cause an additional partial turn of the collar.

It is proposed to mount a table upon the collar referred to above and to support an electric motor driven porous container unit on said table for selectively engaging a plurality of vessels mounted on the base of the machine and around said vertical post and spaced from each other angular distances equal to the spacing of the ratchet teeth.-

' The invention proposes a time controlled means for raising and lowering the collar so as to automatically cause the collar to turn in steps so that the porous container will be engaged in rotation in'said vessels.

Still further the invention proposes an association of a collector ring unit with said collar for controlling the rotations of the electric motor driven porous container.

The invention also proposes that the several vessels be used for diiferent purposes. It is proposed that there be a starting vessel in which a porous container is normally located. It is contemplated that the next vessel contain cleaning fluid, the next one a rinsing fluid, the following one a drying fluid, and the last one a heater for thoroughly drying the parts.

The various parts of watches to be cleaned are placed in the porous container, and then the machine is set into operation'and willautomatically thoroughly clean and dry these parts.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of an automatic watch cleaning machine which is efficient in action, simple in construction and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims 'inwliich' the various 'novel'featuresor the invention are more particularly set forth. "In the accompanying drawings forming'a matef rial partof this disclosure?" Fig. 1 is a plan view ofan automatic watch cleaning machine constructed in accordance'with this "invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine'- shown'ih Fig. 1. a I

' FigJ'S is another sideel evational view but mus trated with certain of the parts indifferent posi' tio'nsi 1 i Figi 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion ofFig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the verticalpost of the machine and certain related parts. I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the lines-s rin 4. f The automatic watch; cleaning machine in accordance with this inventionincludes a base In; The base lii' is hollowand has its top face formed with recesses of various depths to support articles at different elevations. A vertical post 11 is mounted upon said base 10, and is provided with a top ratchet bushing l2 having five downwardly directed teeth 13. The vertical post H is also provided with a reduced idlerneckportion 14'" downwardly'adjacent the top ratchet bushing l2. The vertical'post l l is mounted upon the base 10; by having-its bottom endextended through aboss" lfi'formed in the'base. A horizontal set screw I6' is threadedly mounted through a side'portioni of the boss I5-and engages the" bottom of 'the vertical post for securely holding it in position. The vertical post I lis-a'lso provided witha fluted cam portion having flutes l llocated immediately beneath the reduced idler neck portion 14. There is one flute I! for each ratchet tooth l3. Each I flute-I1 has a rounded top 18 arranged slightly laterally of the ratchet tooth: above it. v A collar 19 is slidably and non-rotatively mounted upon the fluted'cam portionof the ver tical post II. This collar I9 has upwardly directed ratchet teeth 20 complementary to the ratchet teeth [3. The ratchet teeth 20 are-adapted to engage the ratchet teeth I3 when the-collar I9 is moved upwards for causing a partial turn of the collar l9 due to the fact that the ratchet teeth [3 are stationary and positioned slightly later-f ally. The ratchet teeth l3 are formed upon a tubular member or bushing which is engagedupon the-top of thepost ll andwhich is fixedly heldiri' position'b'y' a set screw 21. Tl'i inside race of 'the'collar I9 is for'med'with'five radially in wardly directed teeth 19 see Fig. 6, one for each' of the flutes I1. The" teeth-l9 slidably engage the flutes and permit vertical'sliding'of the collar' but act to prevent rotation thereof as long as-the f teeth I9 are engaged with theflutes'-'l"l. How= ever, the teeth [9 are of a vertical length less than the length of the reduced neck portion l4, and upon upward movement of the collar l9 and as the ratchet teeth 26 approach the ratchet teeth I3; thebottom ends of the teeth I6 move clear of the top ends of the flutes l1 and into alignment with the reduced neck portion 14 freeing the collar 19 to turn relative to the verticalpost I I. Continued upward movement of the collar [9 will cause the ratchet teeth 20 and 13 to engage each other and rotate the collar 19a major portion of one-fifth of a revolution. When the collar 19 is then moved downwards its teeth 19 will engage the rounded tops l8 of the flutes 11, causing a slight additional turn of the collar [9 to complete the-one-fifth revolutionof the collar l9 and disalign the teeth l3and 26- conditioning them for interengagement on the next upward movement of the collar for a further onefifth revolution of the collar.

A collector ring unit 22 is coaxially rotatively mounted upon the bottom portion of the vertical post H. The collar I9 is fixedly mounted on the top of this collector ring unit 22. The unit 22 consists of tubular member 23 having several external annular collector rings 24, 25, and 26 mounted around its top and central portions.

The bottom portion of the member 23 is formed into a tapered section 21. The member 23 rests upon ball bearing 28 which is supported on the collar 29 freely mounted on the bottom of the vertical post H. A brush post 36 is'mounted upon the base 19 to one side of the collector ring unit 22'. Brushes 3| and 32 are mounted upon the post an and normally engage the collector rings 24 and that is when the collector ring unit in itsbottom position. The collector ring unit 22 may be raised and while it is being raised the brushes 31 and 32 will respectively engage and then disengage from the collector rings 26 and 25. When the collector ring unit 22 is in its fully raised position, the brushes 3! and 32 will not touch any of the collector rings.

A table 33 is fixedly mounted upon and radiall-y projects from the collar [9. An electric motor driven porous container unit is mounted upon the table 33. This unit includes an electric motor 3-5 fixedly mounted on the table 33 and having its shaft 36 extending downwards. A tubular member 31 is mounted upon the shaft 36. A shell-like member 38 is releasably mounted on the bottom of the member 31 by the stem 39 which will be gripped by the resilient split ring 39 within the tubular member 31. A porous conta'iher 40 is removably mounted upon the shelllike member 38. More specifically, the container 40 is formed with radially outwardly extending pins 41 which releasably engage complementary bayonet slots 42 formed upon the inside face of a depending skirt wall of the shell-like member 38. A rubber disc 33 is provided at the bottom of table 33. v

A plurality of containers 43, 44, 45, 46, and 41 are mounted on the base I0 concentric about the vertical post I I. These containers are spaced from each other angular distances equal to the annular spacing of the ratchet teeth l3. These containers have open tops which are axially located along the circumference of the circle corresponding with the axial position of the porous container 46. The container 43- is knownas a starting container. Normally when the machine is not in operation the porous container 40 will be located within the container 43, as hereinafter more fully explained. The container 44 is provided with cleaning fluid. The container 45 has a rinsin solution, the container 46 has a drying solution and the container 41 is provided with an electric heater 48. In the lowered position of the table 33, the bottom face of the rubber disc 33 engages a'nd closes the open tops of the'containers 44, 45 and 46 as shown in Fig. 2.

When the porous container 49 is lowered by tubular member 31 over the electric heater 48, the porous container 40 will be gripped by a pair of spring fingers 49. These spring fingers retain the porous container 46 in position while the tubular member 31 moves upwardly and disengages the stem 39 of the porous container 40. Further details of this construction will not be givenin this'specification-as the fingers-49'form no'partof this invention and are generally known in the art.

The support ring 2-9 is associated with a time controlled means for raising and lowering the table33 and the collar [9. This time controlled means-includes a pair of links 50 pivotally connected with the support ring 29 and extended upwards and pivotally connected with the fingers-of a fork-like lever 5|. This lever 5| is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends by a pintle 52 on a standard 53 on the base Ill. The rear end of the lever 51 pivotally supports a link 54 which in turn is pivotally connected eccentrically on a disc 55. This disc 55 is mounted on shaft 56 which: engages into a gear box 51. This gear box 51 houses a gear transmission which is connected by a coupling 58 with an electric motor 59 mountedonthe base I 6.

V The shaft 56 is also provided with a second disc- 60 on the other end thereof. This disc 66 has a projecting eccentrically mounted pin 6|. The pin 6| is cooperative with a lever 62 of an electric switch 63 for opening said switch. This lever 62 is provided with a closing branch arm 64 which is engageable by the finger 65 of a clock mechanism 66 for closing switch 63. The switch 63 is connected in an electric circuit 61 which includes a. manually controlled main switch 68' mounted on the base l0. One parallel section of the circuit 61 connects with and controls the motor 59. The circuit 61 has another parallelsection which connects with the brushes 3| and 32. The central collector ring 25 is connected by a lead 69 with the electric motor 35. The-collector rings 24 and 26 are connected with the other line 19' of the electric motor 35.

The vessel 43 is illustrated as being provided with a porous container 40'. When the tubular member 31 is being lowered over stem 39' of the porous container in the starting position, the resilient split ring 39 grips the stem 39 and holds the porous container 46 out of the vessel- 43.

The operationof the automatic watch cleaning machine is as follows:

Assume the porous container unit to be at its starting position, within the vessel 43. The switch 63 has been manually closed. The switch 68 is closed for a short period of time, until the disc 55 makes a degree turn. This will cause the support ring 29 to be indirectly lifted by the lever '5l, which in turn will'raise the table 33 t0- gether with the collar I9 and collector ring unit 22. The porous container 46 may now be filled with the parts of the watch to be cleaned. The switches'63 and 68 are now manually closed and the machine is permitted to operate.

Assumethat at this point of operation the sup-' port ring 29 has not as yet reached its fully raised-'- 5.. position. Consequently it will now be moved up, and during this interval of time, the ratchet teeth 20 will engage the ratchet teeth l3 causing a partial turn of the collar I9. Then the support ring 29 starts moving downwards which will cause the collar l9, table 33, and collector ring unit 22 to move downwards. The collar l9 strikes the curved top ends l8 of the flutes I'I causing a slight additional turn of the collar so that the collar I9 is now ready to be raised during the next step of the operation of the machine.

As the support ring 29 moves downwards to its bottom position, the electric motor driven porous container unit will engage into the vessel 44. When the brushes 3| and 32 engage the collector rings 25 and 25 the electric motor 35 will have an initial supply of current to start it rotating. When the brushes 3| and 32 engage the collector rings 24 and 25, the motor 35 receives an additional supply of current, and now it is rotating at its normal rate. When the support ring 29 moved down, the disc 60 turned and the pin Bl moved lever 62 to open the switch 63 and stop the electric motor 59. This operation continues, that is motor 35 is turning and motor 59 is off until the time clock 65 times 01f a certain period of. time, for example three minutes, and then the lever 55 will strike the lever 64 to close the switch 63 and energize the electric motor 59. The electric motor '59 now starts drivin the discs 55 and 60. Rotation of the disc 55 will cause the lever to again raise the support ring '29 and the parts carried by the ring 29. When the collar [9 reaches its top most position, the ratchet teeth I3 cause a partial turn of the table 33. Then the collar I9 starts moving down and there will be an additional turn due to the collar I 9 engaging the top ends Id of the flutes IT. NOW the porous container 45 will be located over the vessel 45. The porous container 40 will next engage into the vessel 45. This is the condition as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. When the support ring 29 reaches its bottom position, the pin 6| will strike the lever 52 and pass, and move lever 62 so that the switch 63 is turned off and the clock 65 is free to start another timing period. The discs 55 and 53 will stop when the pin 6| is in the position as illustrated in Fig. 2 in which position the lever 62 was moved and opened switch 63 stopping motor 59.

The operation continues in substantially the same way so that the porous container 40 next engages into the liquid of the vessel 46 and then next into the vessel 41 containing the electric heater 8. The next stop of the machine will place the porous container 40 back into the starting vessel 43, and the cycle of the machine has been; completed and the main switch 68 is then manually moved to an "off position shutting the machine off.

The collector rings 24, and 25 and 26 do not extend 360 degrees around the member 23. They extend lesser distances depending upon design, for example they may be so designed that at the starting position of the machine, that is, when the porous vessel 40 is within the vessel 43, the circuit to the electric motor 3 5 is open. Similarly the rings may be designed so that the motor 35 does not operate with the porous container 40 as in the heater vessel 41.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a watch cleaning machine having a base upon which a plurality of containers are rested and arranged in a circle evenly spaced from one another about the center of the base forming stations at which cleaning operations are to take place, a vertical post extending from the base at the center of the circle of containers, a collar vertically slidable on said post, a flat circular table attached at its center to said collar and extended radially therefrom above all of the containers, a rotatively mounted porous container for watch parts depended from a radial point on the bottom face of said table for extension into the containers in rotative positions of said collar and table relative to said vertical post, means for successively raising and lowering said collar and table to extend said porous container into and out of said containers, and means operative during raising of said collar and table for turning said table through a major portion of the distance between adjacent containers and during lowering of said table and collar for turning said table through the remaining portion of the distance between adjacent containers, whereby when said table and collar are raised and lowered the porous container will be moved out of axial align. ment with one of said containers and into axial.

alignment with the next adjacent container, said 0 formed on the top end of said post, and means' on said collar engaging into said flutes preventing rotation of said collar and arranged to move latter mentioned means comprises downwardly inclined ratchet teeth on the top end of said ver-; tical post and including one tooth for each of.

the containers, upwardly inclined ratchet teeth on the top of said collar and corresponding in. number to the number of downwardly directed ther upward movement will engage said teeth and cause said collar and table to be turned through said major portion of the distance between adjacent containers, said vertical post being formed with a reduced neck portion below said downwardly directed teeth and spaced vertical flutes extending downward from said re-; duced neck portion to points below the top ends of the containers, said flutes having their top ends. opening into said reduced neck portion, cam

surfaces formed on the top ends of the material of. said vertical post between adjacent flute and, being inclined upward at substantially right.

angles to the angleof inclination of said teeth out of the top ends of said flutes into alignment with said reduced neck portion as said teeth approach engagement on upward movement of said collar and table and to ride over said cam surfaces on downward movement of said collar and table to turn said collar and table through the said remaining portion of the distancebetween adjacent containers. 2. In a watch cleaning machine having a base upon which a plurality of containers are restedand arranged in a circle evenly spaced from one another about the center of the base forming stations at which cleaning operation are to take 7, place; a vertical post extending fromthe base at the center of the circle of containers, a collar Ver tically slidable on said post, a flat circular table attached'at its center to said collar and extended radially therefrom above all of the containers; a rotativ'ely' mounted porous container for watch parts depended from a radial point on the bottom face of said table for extension into the contai'n-- ers'in rotati've positions of said collar and table relativeto said vertical post, meansfor succes-" sively raising and lowering said collar and table to extend said porous container into and out of said containers, and means operative during raising of said collar and table for turning saidtable' through a major portion of the distance between adjacent containers and during lower ing of said table and collar for turning said'tab'le through the remaining portion of the distance between adjacent containers, whereby when said table and' collar are raised and lowered the porous container will be moved out of axial alignment with one of said containers and into axial: alignment with the next adjacent container, saidlatter-mentionedmeans comprising downwardly inclined ratchet teeth on the top endof said ver tical post and including one tooth for each of the containers, upwardly inclined ratchet teeth on the top of said collar and corresponding in number to the number of downwardly directed ratchet teeth, said teeth having their inclined surfaces extended parallel to each other to be engageable during upward movement of said collar and-table and just prior to completion of the upward movement and when said porous container is above one-of the containers sothatfurth'er' upward movement will engage said teeth and cause said collar and table to be turned through said major portion of the distance between adjacent containers, said vertical post beingformed with a reduced neck portion below said downwardly directed teeth and spaced vertical flutes extending downward from said reduced neck portion to points below the top ends of the containers, said flutes having their top ends opening into said reduced neckportion, cam' surfaces formed on the top endsof the material of saidvertical post between adjacent flutesandbeing inclined upward at substantially right angles to the angle of inclination ofsaid teeth formed on the top end of said post, and means on said collar engaging intosaid flutes preventing'rotation of said collar and arranged-to move out of the top ends of said flutes into alignment with said reduced neck portion as saidteethapproach engagement on upward movement of said collar and table and to ride over said cam surfaces on downward movement of said collar and table to turn said collar and table through the said: remaining portion of the distance between adjacent containers, said means on said collarcomprising radially inwardly extending teeth formed within said collar.

3..In a watch cleaning machine having a baseupon which a plurality. of container are rested and arranged in a circle. evenly spaced from oneanother about the centerof the. base forming stations at which cleaningoperations are to takeplace,.a vertical post extending from the base at the center of the circle of containers, a collar vertically slidable on said post, a flat circular table attached at its center to said collar and extended radially therefrom above all of thecon tainers, av rotatively mounted porous, container for-- watch parts. depended from a radial point 8 on: the bottom face" of said table for extension into the containers; in rotative positions of said collar and table relative to said vertical post, Ineansfor successively raising and lowering said collar and table to-extend' said porous container into and out of said containers, and means operative during raising of said collar and table for tiirning said table through a major portion of the distance between adjacent containers and during lowering'of said table and collar for turning said table through the remaining portion of thebe" engageable' during upward movement of said;

collar'and table and just prior to completion o1 the upwardmovement and when said porous cont'ai'ner' is above one of the containers so that further upward movement will engage said teeth and"- cause' said collar and table to be turned; through said major portion of the distance be"- tween adjacentcontainers, said vertical post being formed with; a reduced neck portion below said downwardly directed teeth and spaced ver-' tical flutes extending downward from said' re'- d'uced' neck portion to points below the top ends of the containers, said flutes having their top ends opening into said reduced neck portion, cam surfaces for-med on the top ends of the materialof said vertical post between adjacent flutes and beinginclined upwardat substantially right anglestothe angle of inclination of said teethformed onthe top-end of said post, and means on said collar engaging intosaid flutes preventing rotation of said collar and arranged to move outof the top ends of said'fiutes into alignmentwith said reducedneck portion as said teeth approach' engagement on upwardmovement of said collar and table and to ride over said cam-surfaces on downward movement ofsaid collar and table tb turn said collar and table through the said remainingportion of the distance between adjacent containers, saidmeans on said collar comprising radially inwardly extending teeth formed within saidcollar, said' teeth being-of alength to move clear of the top ends of the said flutes as" said ratchet teeth: of said collar are about to engage" said ratchet teeth of said ver'- tical post.

OTTO SCHURENBERG.

REFERENCES CETED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1 ,'795;167,- Gross Mar. 3, 1931 2,157 875; Weiskopf May 9, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number. Country Date 503,800 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1939 

